Telugu Desam Party MLCs on Thursday prevented Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana from giving a reply on new Excise Policy in the State Legislative Council.
When Mopidevi stood to reply a question raised by TDP MLCs V Gangadhar Goud, B Venkateshwarulu and P Mahender Reddy, the opposition members protested and demanded that some other minister give the reply as Mopidevi has been accused of taking bribe from the liquor syndicate. Angered by TDP MLCs behaviour, the treasury benches accused the main opposition of degrading the status of the council. This led to pandemonium forcing the Chairman to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
When the House re-assembled after 10 minutes, the Excise Minister refuted the allegations leveled by the TDP members and said that he was ready to reply on all the questions. During this, Chief Whip in the Council Padma Raju intervened and accused the opposition of trying to hijack the House. He said that the TDP members were not willing to face the reality and therefore, running away from the truth.
Condemning the TDP members’ attitude, treasury bench members started raising slogans which resulted in TDP staging a walkout from the council. (INN)